China asks banks to pause new loans to US-sanctioned refiners
"China's financial regulator has advised the country's largest lenders to temporarily suspend new loans to five refineries recently sanctioned by the U.S. over their ties to Iranian oil, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
[...] The official directive, given before May 1, comes in contrast with an notice from China’s Ministry of Commerce issued on May 2, in which the government asked firms to disregard U.S. sanctions."
--- The important part here is 'largest lenders'. There are numerous banks in China and most of them don't have any dealings with abroad, so they won't be affected by US sanctions anyway.
U.S. sanctions companies and individuals in the Middle East and China for helping Iran
"The moves target 11 entities and three individuals based in Iran, China, Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates, the department said in a statement late on Friday.
“Included in today’s actions are several China-based entities providing satellite imagery to enable Iran’s military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East,”"
--- Good, but, just as mentioned above, the sanctions won't have great effect because most of these companies don't have any dealings in foreign countries. Well, at least not Western countries, let's say it this way.
China April exports rebound strongly after sluggish March, trade surplus widens
"Imports notched another strong month in April, climbing 25.3% versus 27.8% in March. Economists had forecasted growth of 15.2%.
That boosted China’s trade surplus last month to $84.8 billion, from $51.13 billion in March.
Momentum was solid in the first quarter, with China’s GDP growth hitting 5% year-on-year, the top of the government’s full-year target range, and lessening the need for immediate stimulus."
--- Highly dubious.
UK immigration officer among two men guilty of working for Chinese intelligence
""To be frank, I don't feel safe in the UK regarding the spying risk," Lau told the BBC"
--- Well, you shouldn't. Not only because much of the UK police seems to be subverted by communists, but also:
"In an operation organised by Wai and Trickett - with Yuen's knowledge - Zou and some of her employees travelled up to Pontefract for what appears to have been an intended showdown with Kwong.
After Kwong failed to answer the door to her flat, the group became increasingly desperate to find her - using a "snake camera" to film under her door.
Trickett left a note claiming to be "Dave from maintenance", and then poured water under her door saying there was a leak.
Eventually, on 1 May 2024, the group broke into the flat, finding it empty. An audio bugging device left by MI5 recorded the whole thing.
When police moved in, Wai threw a fake warrant card that suggested he was a superintendent in the City of London Police out of the window."
--- & yet:
"The jury could not agree on a charge against both men of foreign interference by forcing entry into the home of an alleged fraud suspect originally from Hong Kong in West Yorkshire."
--- Ridiculous.
TikTok scales back AI-generated video descriptions after absurd errors
"This included one which saw a video of dancer Charli D'Amelio described as a "collection of various blueberries with different toppings,""
--- Must be one of those Chinese AI's, highly advanced and at the forefront of development.
China announces suspended death sentences for former defence ministers
Satellite imagery shows Philippine construction on two islands in disputed Spratlys
Filipino man tells RFA how he spied for China, military says there are more
--- China Uncensored features the usual weekend news variety again:
--- Sky News: "China's 'shadow police' operation in the UK"
--- DW: "Are Chinese Electric Cars a Security Risk for Europe?"
Chinas Exporte wachsen trotz Iran-Krieg
"Wie die Zollbehörde in Peking mitteilte, stieg der Wert der Ausfuhren in US-Dollar berechnet um 14,1 Prozent im Vergleich zum Vorjahresmonat. Die Importe legten demnach um 25,3 Prozent zu. Unterm Strich blieb ein Handelsüberschuss von 84,82 Milliarden Dollar (knapp 72 Milliarden Euro)"
--- Wer es glaubt... Wenn es überhaupt einen Anstieg der Importe gab, dann lag das an den höheren Preisen für Öl.
Chinas Brautkäufe aus Südostasien
Nach Spionage-Urteil: diplomatische Verstimmungen zwischen China und Großbritannien
Zwei Ex-Verteidigungsminister zum Tode verurteilt
